Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria
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156<br />
Martin-Guillaume BIENNAIS silversmith<br />
French 1764–1843<br />
Jean-Baptiste ISABEY decorator<br />
French 1767–1855<br />
Writing case with a miniature <strong>of</strong> Queen<br />
Hortense and her children, Napoleon-<br />
Louis and Louis-Napoleon<br />
Encrier orné d’une miniature: La reine<br />
Hortense et ses enfants, Napoléon-Louis et<br />
Louis-Napoléon<br />
c. 1805–10<br />
Amboyna (Pterocarpus indicus), Ebony (Diospyros sp.),<br />
silver, silver-gilt, gold, enamel, watercolour on paper<br />
Fondation Napoléon, Paris<br />
Donation Lapeyre inv. 821<br />
Queen Hortense seems to have used this<br />
sumptuous writing case – which she gave<br />
to Napoleon for his birthday on 15 August<br />
1808 – as a pretext for also presenting him<br />
with the miniature that adorns it. This shows<br />
Hortense posed with her two youngest<br />
children, the younger <strong>of</strong> whom was to rule<br />
as<br />
Emperor <strong>of</strong> France from 1852 to 1870<br />
with the title Napoléon III. Hortense here<br />
demonstrated her concern for future roles <strong>of</strong><br />
her children in the Empire and affirmed their<br />
position as heirs to the throne.<br />
*End <strong>of</strong> case<br />
© COPYRIGHT<br />
This document remains the property <strong>of</strong> the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Gallery</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Victoria</strong> and must be returned upon request. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited without written authorisation.
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